Best Email Software for Churches in 2026: 7 Simple Options Reviewed

TL;DR: For churches wanting simplicity without the learning curve, Groupmail offers the best balance of ease-of-use, human support, and nonprofit pricing (20% off). Its BYOSMTP model means better inbox delivery and lower costs over time. MailerLite is a strong alternative if you need more automation (30% nonprofit discount), while EmailOctopus works well for budget-conscious congregations with basic needs. Avoid Mailchimp unless you specifically need its integrations—it's grown complex and expensive.

Your church has a mission to pursue. Wrestling with email software shouldn't distract from it. Yet many church administrators find themselves spending hours learning platforms designed for marketing agencies, not ministry. The good news: several tools exist specifically for organizations like yours—simple enough to use without training, affordable on a church budget, and reliable enough to trust with your weekly bulletin.

Disclosure: We're the team behind Groupmail—simple email software for organizations since 1996. We'll be upfront about where we fit and honest about alternatives.

Why Churches Need Simple Email Tools

Church communication operates differently from business marketing. You're not running lead-generation campaigns or tracking conversion funnels. You're keeping your congregation informed about worship services, prayer requests, volunteer opportunities, and community events.

Most church administrators aren't full-time marketing professionals. They're pastors, church secretaries, or volunteers juggling multiple responsibilities. The last thing they need is software that requires a certification course to understand.

The challenge intensifies when platforms designed for small businesses get acquired by larger companies and add complexity. What started as a simple newsletter tool becomes an overwhelming dashboard of features nobody asked for. Churches end up paying for automation workflows they'll never use while struggling to find the "send" button.

💡 Tip: Before evaluating any email tool, list what you actually need. For most churches: a simple editor, contact management, basic open/click tracking, and reliable delivery. Everything else is a bonus.

What to Look For in Church Email Software

When evaluating email tools for your congregation, prioritize these criteria:

Ease of use matters most. If your volunteer coordinator can't figure out how to send next week's bulletin without calling for help, the tool has failed. Look for intuitive interfaces that don't require training manuals.

Nonprofit discounts reduce costs. Many email platforms offer 15-30% discounts for churches and nonprofits. Always ask—even if discounts aren't advertised, some providers offer them upon request.

Deliverability determines success. Your emails only matter if they reach inboxes. Tools with poor sending reputations end up in spam folders, which means missed announcements and frustrated members.

Human support provides peace of mind. When something goes wrong fifteen minutes before you need to send the Sunday bulletin, you want to reach a real person—not a chatbot or a 48-hour ticket queue.

GDPR compliance protects your congregation. Even if your church is outside the EU, members increasingly expect their data handled responsibly. Tools with built-in compliance features save headaches.

7 Best Email Software Options for Churches

1. Groupmail

Best for: Churches wanting the simplest possible experience with human support Pricing: Free (500 contacts) | Starter €25/month | Growth €45/month | Pro €99/month Nonprofit discount: 20% off all paid plans Website: groupmail.io

Groupmail takes the opposite approach from platforms that add features every quarter. Instead of complexity, it focuses on doing one thing exceptionally well: helping organizations send updates to their members.

Setup genuinely takes about ten minutes. The editor is intentionally straightforward—write your message, add your contacts, send. There's no labyrinth of menus or feature overload. Church secretaries and volunteer coordinators can figure it out without training, which matters when staff turnover happens.

What distinguishes Groupmail is the BYOSMTP model. Rather than sending through shared infrastructure (where your church's emails get mixed with thousands of other senders), you connect your own email service like SMTP2Go or SendGrid. This means better deliverability—your emails are more likely to reach inboxes rather than spam folders—and lower costs as your congregation grows.

The 29-year track record provides something newer platforms can't: confidence that the tool will still exist next year. Startups come and go, but Groupmail has been serving organizations since 1996. Human support means reaching real people who respond, not chatbots cycling through canned answers.

Trade-offs: The BYOSMTP setup requires connecting an external email service, which adds a one-time configuration step. If you want everything bundled into one platform with no setup, this approach requires slightly more initial effort. The integration library is smaller than larger competitors—you won't find hundreds of app connections, though most churches don't need them.

Key Takeaway: Groupmail is purpose-built for organizations that want to send member updates without becoming email marketing experts. The 29-year track record and human support provide peace of mind that startup tools can't match.

2. MailerLite

Best for: Churches needing affordable automation with nonprofit discount Pricing: Free (1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month) | Growing Business $10/month | Advanced $20/month Nonprofit discount: 30% off paid plans Website: mailerlite.com

MailerLite strikes a balance between simplicity and capability. The interface remains approachable while offering features like landing pages, automation sequences, and website building that growing churches might eventually need.

The 30% nonprofit discount makes MailerLite one of the most affordable options for churches on paid plans. The free tier is generous—1,000 subscribers with 12,000 monthly emails covers many smaller congregations entirely.

The drag-and-drop editor works smoothly, and templates look modern without requiring design skills. Automation features let you set up welcome sequences for new members or automatic event reminders, though many churches find they don't need these capabilities.

Trade-offs: MailerLite is less focused on organizations specifically—it serves creators, bloggers, and small businesses equally. The interface, while clean, has more options than church administrators typically need. Approval for new accounts can sometimes take a day or two.

3. EmailOctopus

Best for: Budget-conscious churches with basic needs Pricing: Free (2,500 subscribers, 10,000 emails/month) | Pro $9/month for 500 subscribers Nonprofit discount: 20% lifetime discount Website: emailoctopus.com

EmailOctopus offers one of the most generous free plans in email marketing. Churches with smaller congregations can send newsletters indefinitely without paying, making it excellent for missions, church plants, or budget-constrained ministries.

The interface is stripped down to essentials. You won't find advanced automation or AI-powered features, but you will find a clear path from "write email" to "send email" without unnecessary complexity.

The Pro plan scales affordably—$40/month covers 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sending. For larger churches, this pricing beats most competitors significantly.

Trade-offs: The simplicity comes with limitations. Template options are basic, analytics are minimal, and there's no phone support. The 20% nonprofit discount only applies to paid plans, though the free tier handles many church use cases anyway. No multi-language support for international congregations.

4. Brevo

Best for: Churches wanting email plus SMS in one platform Pricing: Free (300 emails/day, unlimited contacts) | Starter $9/month | Business $18/month Nonprofit discount: 15% (Enterprise plans only) Website: brevo.com

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) charges based on emails sent rather than contact count. For churches with large membership directories but infrequent sending, this pricing model works favorably—you're not paying for members who only receive the monthly newsletter.

The free plan allows unlimited contacts with 300 daily emails. For a church of a few hundred members sending weekly, that's sufficient without ever paying. The built-in CRM is unusual at this price point, letting you track member engagement beyond basic email metrics.

SMS capabilities let you send text message reminders for services, events, or emergencies—useful for reaching members who check phones more than email.

Trade-offs: The free plan includes Brevo branding in your emails, and removing it costs $12/month extra. The nonprofit discount only applies to custom Enterprise pricing—standard plans don't receive discounts. The interface has more features than most churches need, which can feel overwhelming initially.

5. Constant Contact

Best for: Churches wanting phone support and event management Pricing: Lite $12/month | Standard $35/month | Premium $80/month Nonprofit discount: Up to 30% with 12-month prepayment Website: constantcontact.com

Constant Contact has served small organizations since 1995. The platform includes event management tools—creating event pages, managing RSVPs, and sending reminders—which churches hosting regular gatherings find valuable.

Phone support distinguishes Constant Contact from most competitors. When you need help urgently, speaking with a human immediately has real value. The 30% nonprofit discount with annual prepayment makes pricing more competitive, though you need to commit upfront.

The interface is mature and stable. It won't surprise you with dramatic redesigns or disappearing features.

Trade-offs: Pricing runs higher than alternatives, especially for larger contact lists. Even the Lite plan at $12/month offers less than some competitors' free tiers. Automation features are basic compared to MailerLite or Brevo. No free plan exists—only a 14-day trial.

⚠️ Watch out: Many email tools count unsubscribed contacts against your plan limits. Check the fine print—you might be paying for people who can't receive your emails.

6. Buttondown

Best for: Churches wanting minimal, text-focused newsletters Pricing: Free (100 subscribers) | $9-139/month based on subscriber count Nonprofit discount: 50% off Website: buttondown.com

Buttondown appeals to those who believe email newsletters should be simple text, not designed marketing pieces. If your church bulletin works better as a readable letter than a graphic-heavy layout, Buttondown's minimal approach might resonate.

The 50% nonprofit discount is among the highest available. The platform charges only for active subscribers—people who actually receive and engage with your emails—rather than your total contact list.

Setup is genuinely fast. Write in Markdown or plain text, hit send. No template hunting or design decisions required.

Trade-offs: The minimalism limits functionality. No drag-and-drop editor, limited design customization, and basic analytics. Churches wanting visually rich bulletins with photos from Sunday service or embedded event graphics will find Buttondown restrictive. The free tier caps at 100 subscribers—too small for most established congregations.

7. Mailchimp

Best for: Churches needing extensive integrations Pricing: Free (500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month) | Essentials $13/month | Standard $20/month Nonprofit discount: 15% off Website: mailchimp.com

Mailchimp remains the most recognized email marketing platform, which means abundant tutorials, integrations, and community resources. If your church uses specific software that needs email integration, Mailchimp likely connects with it.

The drag-and-drop editor works well, and template variety exceeds most competitors. Analytics are comprehensive for those who want detailed engagement data.

Trade-offs: Mailchimp has grown complex. What was once a simple newsletter tool now includes CRM features, landing pages, social posting, and marketing automation—most of which churches don't need but still navigate around. The free plan has shrunk dramatically (500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month) and now includes restrictions on scheduling and automation. Recent pricing increases and counting unsubscribed contacts toward limits have frustrated longtime users. The 15% nonprofit discount doesn't offset what many consider high base prices.

Quick Comparison Table

Which Tool Is Right for Your Church?

Choose Groupmail if your church prioritizes simplicity and wants human support available when needed. The BYOSMTP model suits congregations planning to grow—deliverability stays strong and costs stay controlled. Best for churches tired of platforms that keep adding complexity.

Choose MailerLite if you want more automation capabilities while staying affordable. The 30% nonprofit discount makes it excellent value. Good for churches that might eventually want welcome sequences or automated event reminders.

Choose EmailOctopus if budget is your primary constraint and your needs are basic. The generous free plan covers many smaller congregations entirely. Good for church plants, missions, or ministries with limited resources.

Choose Brevo if you want email and SMS messaging in one platform. The contact-based (rather than subscriber-based) pricing works well for churches with large directories but infrequent sending.

Choose Constant Contact if phone support is essential and you host many events requiring RSVP management. Best for established churches with budget for premium pricing.

Choose Buttondown if your bulletin works best as simple text without design elements. The 50% nonprofit discount makes it very affordable for the right use case.

Choose Mailchimp if you specifically need its integrations with other software your church uses, and you're willing to navigate its complexity.

Conclusion

Most churches don't need sophisticated marketing automation or AI-powered content optimization. They need a reliable way to keep their congregation informed—weekly bulletins, event announcements, prayer requests, and community updates.

The best email software for your church is the one your volunteers can actually use without frustration. Start with simplicity, and add features only when you genuinely need them.

Ready to send your first update? Start free with Groupmail — set up in 10 minutes, no credit card required. Built for organizations, not marketers.